New York Islanders Brock Nelson 2017-18 Season Preview

New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson comes into 2017-2018 looking for his fourth 20 goal season in a row. Sounds great, right? Did I mention he is only going to be 26 in October? Not too much to worry about here! Yea right…I wish that were the case with Nelson.

Nelson is one of the most inconsistent players on the New York Islanders roster. He has ups and downs of the highest proportions, but mostly downs. Every season he has the potential to be an elite goal scorer on the team. Every season he shows flashes of an elite player and then with the switch of a shift it disappears.

Most games Brock Nelson is invisible on the defensive end. He was a -6 last season, it goes without saying that is just not good enough. His mental lapses are through the roof. With this Islanders team beginning to evolve, its play well or go home for Nelson this season.

If Doug Weight can find any tricks up his sleeve to turn Nelson into the player he once promised to be, he will be a dangerous weapon for the Islanders offense. My advice for Islanders fan will be to have no expectations to Nelson this season. Will he score his 20 goals? Probably. Will he have way too many turnovers leading to opposing team goals? I’m sure he will.

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Changed Player?

Brock Nelson has yet to show me any signs that he will be a changed player this season. He’s already shown flashes of his old self in brief preseason action.

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He still has one of the best wrist shots on the team and that won’t change. He needs to become a better overall player and push his style of play to the next level. I need to see more than a few garbage goals here and there. Nelson absolutely cannot go on his ten-game stretch where you don’t even know he is in the lineup. Clearly, there is a lot riding on this season for Nelson.

The Islanders were quick to pull the trigger on Ryan Strome and let him move on. If Brock Nelson doesn’t bring his best game this season, I don’t see why Garth Snow would not do the same with him.

The team needs to be hard on him because I believe he 100% still has the potential to succeed in this league. That is why he will have a great season in 2017-2018 because he must. Shocking, right?

Playing alongside more talented forwards will help Nelson reach his full potential. He could very well see some time with rookies like Matthew Barzal or Josh Ho-Sang. Weight could also throw him with veterans like Josh Bailey or Andrew Ladd. I think either way he will be in good company.

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Give me 31 goals and 29 assists for Brock Nelson next season. This will be the year he takes the next step. Yes, he will still make some silly mistakes that will send Isles twitter into a frenzy but hey, he’s still a kid. Look out for Nelson next season, like usual I have high expectations.

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